Window form or the like



y 1954 v. B. HONNIGFORD wmnow FORM OR THE LIKE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 26, 1951 I N VE N 7'0 V/CTOR B. HONN/GFORD Zz/ /7//y.

y 1954 v. B. HONNIGFORD 2,683,913

WINDOW FORM OR THE LIKE I N VE N TOR VICTOR B. HONN/GFORD Patented July 20, 1954 UNITED STATES OFFICE 10 Claims.

The present invention relates to a form such as may be used'when pouring a concrete wall, to establish openings in the wall for reception ofwindow frames or frames for'coal chutes or other purposes. The form of this invention may be used repeatedly, as it is not destroyed in the process of stripping the wall forms from the concrete structure undergoing erection.

An object of the invention is to provide a form for the purpose stated, which may be contracted or collapsed after the concrete of the'wall has solidified, thereby facilitating and expediting formation of the finished wall, with a substantial saving of time, labor, and materials.

Another object is to provide a form of the character stated, which is simple and inexpensive to construct, and may be used repeatedly on successive jobs to effect the savings above mentioned.

A further object is to avoid'theinefficiencies heretofore experienced in building new window forms on the job while the wall forms are being erected, and destroying such window forms in removing them from the concrete wall when @0111- pleted;

Another object is to achieve the formation of perfect window openings in a concrete wall, without resort to tedious and time-consuming finishing operations which usually were necessary under the conventional practices heretofore employed.

These and other objects are attained by the means described herein and illustrated upon the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the'form embodying the present invention, the form being shown in the operative or expanded condition.

Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary perspective View, on an enlarged scale, showing part of arib piece applicable to the form.

Fig. 4 is a front elevational View of the improved window form, showing same in a partly collapsed or contracted condition which it assumes in the process of removal from the concrete wall when solidified.

Fig. 5 is an end view showing the window form supported between the sides of a wall form, in readiness for pouring of concrete into the wall form.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary front elevation, similar to the lower left cornerof Fig. 4, showing a modification of the window form construction.

Fig.7 is a sectional view similar to Fig. 2, showing afurther modifications Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. 6, illustrating-- a modification of the corner construction of the form.

In the past, it was customary to form window openings for basements and the like, by cuttingand assembling lengths of lumber into rectangular frames of approximate window size, and nailing the frames into position between the wall forms.

frame, but also in positioning it at the proper elevation and in level condition between the wall forms. Because of the rigid nature of the frame when built and assembled into the formwork of the wall, it was necessary after pouring of the concrete and setting thereof, to destroy the frame in the process of stripping the wall forms from the structure and clearing the window openings for reception of permanent window frames, especially those of metal. This constituted a costly procedure, wasteful of time, labor and materials, all of-which has been effectively eliminated in accordance with the following teaching.

It is proposed that the wall form comprising the sides orpanels 99 be erected in the usual manner, to receive therebetween the window form of the invention which isindicated generally by the character Hi. The form iii may be supported within the wallform in any suitable manner, the use of nails l2 or other fasteners being permissible for-this purpose, see Fig. 5.

The form Iii may comprise a pair of uprights l3i3, a header in two parts i i-I i, and'a sill in two parts l5l5.- A1! of the parts above mentioned may be of lumber, preferably, the width ofeach part conforming with the space between the wall form sides 99, and the outside dimensions of the window formbeing such as to provide an aperture in the finished concrete wall 'to accommodate a permanent window frame. The use of a material other than lumber in constructing the window form, is to be considered within the scope of the present invention.

The corners of the form are provided with inside hinges if of any suitable type, capable 'of permitting inward ilexation of the form corners in the manner of Fig. 4. The hinges shown are of metal, but the use of leather, fabric or other suitable material in providing the hinge connection may be resortedto, if desired. Intermediate their ends, the header and the sill parts are to be hinged as indicated at i 8, and these hinges likewise may be of any suitable type permitting inward flexation. From the foregoing, it will be understood that inward flexing or displace- This procedure usually required theskill of a carpenter, not only in constructing the ment of the parts from the rectangular formation of Fig. 1 to the collapsed condition of Fig. 4, results in a reduction of the form dimensions enabling extraction of the form from a concrete wall opening produced by the form. The form may be collapsed or contracted to a greater extent than is indicated by Fig. 4, as is obvious.

In most instances, it is considered desirable to provide the window form with means to establish a groove in the concrete f the window opening, to accommodate an outwardly extending flange formed on the frame of the window to be set into the opening. Such means may be in the form of a rib extending downwardly from the under face of the sill, and similar ribs extending outwardly from the sides of the form as indicated at It, 26, 2| and 22 of Figs. 1 to 5. Such ribs, as illustrated upon the drawings, extend from three sides of the form, but if desired, the fourth side likewise may be provided with a similar rib to groove the concrete at the head portion of the window, when concrete is to be poured about the four sides of the window form.

The ribs may be triangular in cross-section as shown, or may assume other shapes such as rectangular or half-round, to make a proper impression in the concrete for reception of the window frame flange. The ribs will preferably lie in a common vertical plane, so that the grooves formed thereby in the concrete will be continuous. The material of which the ribs are made can be varied, the use of sheet metal being suggested in all of the drawing views with the exception of Fig. '7, wherein the rib may be considered formed of wood, cast metal, hard rubber or any hard material capable of maintaining its shape under the pressure of the concrete poured into the wall form. The rib of Fig. '7 may be applied to the form iii in any suitable manner, as by means of screws 24, nails or other fasteners.

Reverting to Figs. 1 to 5, it will be noted that all the ribs are formed of sheet metal strips bent to V-shape, with oppositely directed flanges 25 formed thereon to provide for mounting the ribs upon the form. The flanges may be pierced to accommodate nails or other fasteners 21. Ribs 2| and 22 at the sides of the form, may have their lower ends niitered, as at 28 of Fig. i, the peak of the mitered end extending below the level of the sill of the form. The mitered ends 28 of the ribs 4 and 22 may be open, if desired, although closed ends at this location would be operative.

Closed ends for the ribs of the sill, are indicated at 3B of Figs. 1, 2 and i, these ends being mitered downwardly and outwardly to permit the knee action of the sill necessitated by collapsing of the form (Fig. 4). The ends 39 are closed to prevent entry of concrete into the ribs when poured. The pin of the sill hinge 18 preferably is located close to or in the plane of the rib flanges 25, and the closed ends 303ii diverge downwardly and outwardly therefrom.

The outer ends 3l3l of the sill rib parts are preferably miter-ed, so that their peaks 32 extend beyond the side members l3--l3 of the form a distance sufficient to underlie the peaks of the side ribs 2% and 22. When these peaks at the corners are in register, that is, when the form is expanded to the rectangular condition, the initered joints at the lower corners of the form are closed against entry of concrete. It is not ordinarily necessary to plug the mitered outer ends of the sill ribs, although this may be done if desired. Whenever the ribs are of solid material, as in Fig. 7, this consideration is of no concern.

In the modified form of the invention i1lustrated by Fig. 6, the upright or side member 33 of form it carries a sheet metal rib 34 similar to rib 22 in cross-section, and at its lower end the rib 34 has a fixed lateral extension 35 underlying the lower end of member 33. The extension is of the same cross-sectional shape as the rib, and at the plane of the inner face 36 of member 33, the extension inay be slightly reduced to form a shoulder against which may abut the open end edges 33 of the sill rib part 39. ihe sill part li} in this instance corresponds with the sill part l5 of I It may be noted that here the end 38 of the rib 39 is flush with the end ii of the sill part it, and when the parts 49 and 33 are disposed at right angles, as in Fig. l, the shouldered portion 3'! makes a closed joint with the open end 38 of the sill rib, to preclude entry of concrete into the joint. As will be understood, a complete form made in accordance with Fig. 6 will operate generally in the manner of Fig. 4, and the upper corners of such modified form may be identical with those of Fig. 4.

In the modification of Fig. 8, the side member or upright d3 is hinged to the sill part 54 as in Figs. 4 and 6, and the side rib 45 has an open lower end 48 which may extend slightly below the end 4? of the upright 43, if desired. The sill rib 48 extends beyond its mounting flange a distance which approximates the thickness of upright 43 plus the height of rib 5 at its apex, so that when the parts 43 and. M are disposed at right angles, the extending end or overhang 29 of the sill rib will cap over the open end it of side rib 45. In this instance, the free outer end of rib A3 is closed by a transve wall and the upper portion of the overhang, indicated at 5 i, is open. Such a construction will of course form a closed joint at the corner of the form when the form is extended to the operative rectangular condition, thereby precluding entry of concrete into the joint. The form of Fig. 8 otherwise will be similar to that of Fig. 4, having a two-piece header and sill hinged intermediate the ends thereof.

In all of the drawing illustrations, the ribs are shown proportionately larger than they would appear in practice, this distortion being necessary to a clear disclosure without undue enlargement of the drawing views. It will appear that the cantilever action occurring at the peaks 32 of the sill ribs incident to collapsing of the form for removal, constitutes an aid to displacement of the form. In the initial stage of the collapsing action, the upright side members will move inwardly far enough to free the side ribs from their respective grooves in the concrete, whereupon the form may be displaced laterally out of the window, or lifted therefrom upwardly. Thus the form can be bodily displaced from the window opening with ease. In most instances, no concrete is poured onto the header of the window form.

The character 5-3 of Figs. 1 and 5 indicates a post of lumber or the like cut to the same length as the normal distance between the sill and the header, this post being used to maintain the form in the rectangular operative condition while the concrete wall is being poured. As soon as the wall form is stripped from the concrete wall, the post may be removed preparatory to collapsing the window form. The post is not necessarily fastened to the window form, but may be merely placed vertically therein with its opposite ends abutting the header and the sill at their respecv tive hinge joints, as shown. Screws or other fasteners for attaching the various hinges are indicated at 54.

The foregoing description clearly reveals the nature of the invention and the manner of usage thereof; and the advantages overthe prior structures are readily apparent to those conversant with structural concrete building problems. The device of the invention is subject to various modifications and changes in its details of construction, and in the materials of which its constituents are fabricated; and it may be produced in various sizes and shapes, all within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

It is desirable to point out, in connection with Fig. 6, the fact that the corner extension 35 may be integral with or attached to the upright rib 34, or if desired, such corner extension may be a separate part attached to the lower end portion of the upright side member 33 by means of its mounting flanges 25. It is possible, of course, to form the parts 34 and 35 of wood, cast metal, or other solid material, and the same applies to the ribs E5 and d8 of Fig. 8.

What I claim is:

1. A contractible form for placement within the wall form of a concrete wall under construction, to establish a window opening in the concrete wall, said contractible form comprising a bi-part header, a bi-part sill member, and a pair of upright side members, all of a material to which the wall form may be nailed, hinge means joining the two parts of the header intermediate the ends thereof, and hinge means joining the two parts of the sill member intermediate the ends thereof, whereby the header and the sill member may be flexed inwardly of the contractible form, other hinge means joining the free ends of the header and the sill member to the upper and lower end portions, respectively, of the upright side members, to establish a closed frame the overall size of which may be reduced by flexing the header and sill member inwardly toward the center of the frame, an upright rib on each side member to establish a pair of coplanar grooves in the poured concrete of the wall, and separate ribs on the two parts of the sill, said separate ribs having inner ends spaced apart at the intermediate hinge means of the sill, and having outer ends meeting the lower ends of the side member ribs when the form is expanded to operative rectangular formation.

2. A device in accordance with claim 1, characterized by the fact that the ribs are formed hollow, of sheet material, and meet at the corners of the form to establish joints precluding access into the rib interiors.

3. A contractible form for placement within the wall form of a concrete wall under construction, to establish a window opening in the concrete wall, said contractible form comprising a bi-part header, a bi-part sill member, and a pair of upright side members, hinge means joining the two parts of the header intermediate the ends thereof, and hinge means joining the two parts of the sill member intermediate the ends thereof, thereby to form bendable knee joints in the header and the sill member, hinges joining the outer free ends of the header and the sill memoer to the upper and lower end portions, respectively, of the upright side members, upright ribs secured to the outer faces of said side members lengthwise thereof, the ribs terminating in mitered peaks extending downwardly beyond the side members at the lower ends thereof, a pair of ribs on the sill member, each of the sill ribs extending from the intermediate hinge means outwardly toward the side members, the sill ribs including outer free ends under the lower ends of the side members, and terminating in mitered peaks extending beyond the side members, the mitered peaks of the sill ribs registering with those of the side member ribs when the two constituent parts of the sill member are in alignment thereby to establish continuity of all the ribs at the corners of the form.

4. A device in accordance with claim 3, characterized by the fact that the sill ribs include inner adjacent ends terminating near the intermediate hinge means of the sill, said inner ends being closed and disposed downwardly divergent relative to one another.

5. A device in accordance with claim 4, characterized by the fact that the several ribs are formed from sheet metal strips including mounting flanges formed along opposite sides thereof, for attachment to the sill and the side members of the form.

6. A device in accordance with claim 3, characterized by the fact that the several ribs are formed from sheet metal strips including mounting flanges formed along opposite longitudinal edges thereof, for attachment to the sill and the side members of the form.

'7. A contractible form for placement within the Wall form or" a concrete wall under construction, to establish a window opening in the concrete wall, said contractible form comprising a bi-part header, a bi-part sill member, and a pair of upright side members, hinge means joining the two parts of the header intermediate the ends thereof, and hinge means joining the two parts of the sill member intermediate the ends thereof, thereby to form bendable knee joints in the header and the sill member, hinges joining the outer ends of the header and the sill member to the upper and lower end portions, respectively, of the upright side members, fixed upright ribs on the outer faces of said side members extending longitudinally thereof and including lower ends forming corners at the lower ends of the side members, said corner-forming ends of the ribs underlying the lower ends of the side members and having termini located approximately at the plane of the inner face of each side member, a pair of ribs on the sill member, each or the sill ribs extending from the intermediate hinge outwardly toward the side members, and terminating in outer ends substantially flush with the outer ends of the sill members, the outer ends of the sill ribs being adapted to meet the termini of the corner-forming upright rib ends to form closed joints when the sill parts are in axial alignment.

8. A device in accordance with claim '7, characterized by the fact that the corner-forming ends of the upright ribs are parts separate from said upright ribs, individually attached to the lower ends of the side members.

9. A contractible form for placement within the wall form of a concrete wall under construction to establish a window opening in the concrete wall, said contractible form comprising a bi-part header, a bi-part sill member, and a pair of upright side members, hinge means joining the two parts of the header intermediate the ends thereof, and hinge means joining the two parts of the sill member intermediate the ends thereof, thereby to form bendable knee joints in the header and the sill member, hinges joining the outer free ends of the header and the sill member to the upper and lower end portions, respectively, of the upright side members, fixed upright ribs on the outer faces of said side members extending longitudinally thereof and including lower ends terminating approximately at the lower ends of the side members, a pair of ribs on the sill member, each of the sill member ribs extending from the intermediate hinge means outwardly toward the side members, and terminating in outer ends underlying the lower ends of the side members and the lower ends of the side ribs thereto attached, thereby to cap the lower ends of the side members and the lower ends of the side ribs when the sill parts are disposed in alignment, to provide a closed joint.

10. A device in accordance with claim 9, characterized by the fact that the extreme opposite ends of both sill member ribs include end walls.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 314,387 Lord Mar. 24, 1885 341,161 Ormerod May 4, 1886 950,827 Smith Mar. 1, 1910 1,059,871 Hering Apr. 22, 1913 1,075,928 Mills Oct. 14, 1913 1,097,037 Mather May 19, 1914 1,602,035 McLaughlin Oct. 5, 1926 

